The ramblings of a pilgrim through time, space, and life.

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Massanutten

There is not a whole lot to report on at the present. We enjoyed a Thanksgiving here in blessed Virginia.

Amanda and I drove to Massanutten, a resort up in the hills. We went up to spend Thanksgiving with Amanda’s Uncle and Aunt. It turned out to be an interesting day. I enjoyed the drive up to the area. Gordonsville was the highlight of the day, the town having a personality completely its own. A rare thing it seems these days.

Massanutten wasn’t anything to boast about. They do have a very large indoor water park. Other than that, it was just a bunch of condos in the middle of the mountains. Don’t get me wrong, the mountains were beautiful. How much more beautiful without the “hello, here I am” presence of the resort?

Amanda and I have determined we will never go out to enjoy our Thanksgiving meal again. It seems to undermine what the day is about. Who would have ever thought it was Thanksgiving. Where was any resemblance of Thanksgiving, other than a commercial version of the foods associated with the date?

We went back and pretty much watched the TV for the rest of the day. Driving home, we were relieved to leave the situation which seemed lacking so much.

Hopefully, I can pay some homage to the day here even though the day did not provide much.

This week, I discovered I am the posterity of individuals who lived at Jamestown. Yes, next years celebration of 400 years in America, honored even by the Queen, is directly relevant to me. Not just through this nation, but through my ancestors who lived there. The Clark (or Clarke) family, the Summers, Lumpkin, and Thompson groups I am all related to. There is a possibility my Clark’s even come from the famous John Clark, who was the Master’s Mate on the Mayflower. He had been to Jamestown before, imprisoned in Spain, made the trip of the Mayflower, and eventually made his way back to live in Jamestown. He died not too much afterwards. I am also a descendent of the Graham Clan who settled parts of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. They extended into Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio as well. I am an American very deep in some roots. One of those Grahams was a personal friend of George Washington, and convinced him to help endow a new school he had founded. Yep, a Graham founded Washington and Lee. My history includes three future presidents, universities, and other numerous recorded aids to society.

My roots expand the ocean many times. My roots run to Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and England. My ancestors were in the court of rulers; my ancestors even ruled parts of the Roman Empire. My ancestors come from Sweden, Norway, and the largest number from Germany. I have family who can be traced into Russia, Australia, and a score of other nations. The foundations I have been given are broad and inclusive. I am so very fortunate. Each of us have a history which began long before we were born.

Those blessings extend beyond my family. This nation, which has its hopes in liberty and freedom are one of the greatest blessings to me. I am very fortunate. It may be a weakness in many ways, but is a great boon in many more ways. I pray for the principles upon which it is founded to continue to go to the whole earth. I pray that those principles would be grasped by other nations and be implemented into their states. I pray our nation might return to the principles of truth and freedom for which it is founded.

I remember the lives of those who were given for this freedom I enjoy and others do not. Two of my Great Grandfather’s were gassed in WWI and both lived to tell the tale. Both met painful and difficult deaths due to it. One grandfather has purple hearts to show for his wounds and success in WWII. The other grandfather tried to enroll, but due to health issues was not allowed to be a part.

I pray for the soldiers of freedom everywhere. I care not what nation they represent, as long as they are there for liberty, freedom, and truth. I pray God will bless those who represent those hopes and ideals. That those who do not represent those ideals, or those they represent, will be thwarted in their designs.

It is with gratitude I offer my thanks to He who makes death not a fear. I thank and give adoration to the Savior of all mankind, even Christ that we might all live again. That despite wickedness and fear, we have nothing to fear but sin. I express my deepest thanks for the restoration of His church back on the earth and the miracles which abound about us. The gathering of lost nations, the restoration of Israel, the building up of the kingdom in preparation for the king whose right it is to rule. My deepest sympathies are with the restoration and furthering of eternal purposes upon the earth. My greatest joys and delight come from this impressive, yet almost unrecognizable effort happening in our midst.

I am pleased to have been born at this time of such great blessing. It is with a certain hope I see the future, despite all which is prophesied to come upon us. So much pain that the Saints will barely escape with their lives. We have seen little or nothing of what is to come. Nations will rise up against nations and desolation shall abound on all the earth. Those of the order of God have not need to fear though. This I am grateful for. For the Priesthood which shall protect those within the covert from the storm, for the Resurrection that those who will be lost; both for their own sins and for a more full judgment upon the wicked.

Most close to home I thank for those who are dearest to me. I am thankful for those who so deeply touch the deepest parts of my soul. Many who are now separated from me by death, but that too shall not be for long. My dearest wife, and all her splendor for which I am a blessed soul. My parents who fought and struggled so hard for my upbringing and their abiding love for me.

There is a whole multitude of souls I could reference for their influence in my life. The more I learn and contemplate, the more I realize how intricately every soul is linked to one another. Even years later we remember the influence of another. There are influences from childhood, influences from events far away, and even influence from beyond the grave.